Bidet having instant hot water function and method of control thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a bidet having instant hot water function in which a sheathed heater generates heat by a electric power supplied under the control of a controller, and, at the same time, the heating member made of aluminum is heated by the generated heat, and the tap water supplied from a hydrant is converted into hot water to spray through a nozzle to thereby wash the user&#39;s anus or genitalia, and then tap water from the hydrant is supplied to the heating member in a state where the electric power supply to the sheathed heater is disconnected under the control of the controller to quench the heating member to a room temperature, which allows reliable use of bidet, and a control method thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014- 0129092, filed on Sep. 26, 2014 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bidet and is more particularly concerned with a bidet having an instant hot water function in which a sheathed heater generates heat by a electric power supplied under the control of a controller and, at the same time, a heating member made of aluminum is heated by the generated heat, and a tap water supplied from a hydrant is converted into hot water to be sprayed through a nozzle to thereby wash the user's anus or genitalia, and then the tap water from the hydrant is supplied to the heating member in a state where the electric power supply to the sheathed heater is disconnected under the control of the controller to quench the heating member to a room temperature, which allows reliable use of the bidet, and a method of control thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a bidet is an apparatus which, after using the toilet, washes the anus or genitalia with water sprayed from the sprayer nozzle by a button operation of the user, and is widely used in households or office buildings.

The water sprayed from the sprayer nozzle is hot water stored in a hot water tank. Cold water supplied to the hot water tank is heated by a heater and always maintained at a constant temperature, thus consuming unnecessary power.

Also, if the capacity of the hot water tank increases, the entire size of the bidet as well as the power consumption increase. On the other hand, if the capacity of the hot water tank decreases, there is a problem in that cold water can be sprayed during the use of the bidet, which causes consumer dissatisfaction. In addition, when the power supply is stopped during the winter time, water stored in the water tank can freeze and so can make the water tank break and damage the bidet.

Recently, in order to solve the above problems, Korean Patent No. 0804303 titled “Instantaneous arc heating device” has been suggested.

According to the device of Korean Patent No. 0804303, water is heat-exchanged by a heating device made of a ceramic material and installed in the casing and is discharged through an outlet port. Then the discharged water is mixed in the mixing area and discharged through the discharge port, wherein a pressure sensor is included in the mixing area.

According to Korean Patent No. 0804303, although the problems associated with the prior art could be solved by heating water through the heating means and discharging it, the structure is complicated, thus making the productivity low and the manufacturing costs high, which is economically disadvantageous.

Further, the heating means made of ceramic material has low durability to the thermal shock and sudden temperature drops, which causes cracks due to shorten the life of the product. Also, there is a risk of propagation of bacteria because of the stagnant water supplied to the heating means.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems encountered in the prior arts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bidet having an instant hot water function which can use, without deformation a heating member made of aluminum which is not damaged by a change in heat due to a thermal shock or rapid temperature difference, thus extending the product life, and a method of control thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bidet having an instant hot water function which can, after using the hot water function, supply water to a heating member made of aluminum material, quench the heating member to a room temperature, and then wait for the next operation, thus providing reliability in use, and a method of control thereof.

The bidet having an instant hot water function according to the present invention comprises:

-   -   a sheathed heater to radiate heat under the control of a control         unit;     -   a heating member surrounding the sheathed heater, the heat         radiated from the sheathed heater being delivered to the heating         member to convert water located in a flow channel into hot         water;     -   a housing mounted on the heating member to accommodate the flow         channel, through which a supply hole and a discharge hole, which         are fluidly connected to a front end and a rear end of the flow         channel, respectively, are penetrating;     -   a temperature sensor which is located in the discharge hole to         be submerged in the flow channel of the heating member and which         measures the temperature of hot water discharged through the         discharge hole and the temperature of the heating member to         supply or disconnect the power supply to the sheathed heater         under the control of the control unit;     -   a mounting member mounted on the housing to fluidly connect a         discharge hole and a through hole while accommodating the         temperature sensor;     -   a guide member mounted on the mounting member to accommodate the         through hole, thereby guiding the supply of the hot water or         discharging air; and     -   a check valve mounted between the guide member and the mounting         member to supply hot water and prevent backflow while opening         and shutting the through hole.

A control method of a bidet having instant hot water function according to the present invention comprises the steps of:

-   -   pressing an anterior or posterior cleaning button after using a         toilet and supplying electric power to a sheathed heater under         the control of a control unit to radiate heat;     -   delivering the heat radiated from the sheathed heater to a         heating member surrounding the sheathed heater and converting         water located in a flow channel into hot water;     -   heating water remaining in a flow channel with the heating         member to convert it into hot water, and then opening a solenoid         valve to enable the water from the hydrant to be supplied to the         flow channel of the heating member through a supply hole of a         housing;     -   measuring the temperature of hot water discharged to the         discharge hole and the temperature of the heating member by a         temperature sensor installed on a mounting member, while         locating at the discharge hole to be submerged in the flow         channel of the heating member, thereby supplying or         disconnecting the electric power to the sheathed heater under         the control of the control unit;     -   ascending a check valve with the pressure of residual hot water         discharged to the discharge hole to shut a guide discharge hole         of a guide member and at the same time moving through a water         flow hole to wash a nozzle and then cleaning a user anteriorly         or posteriorly while the hot water supplied to the supply hole         is sprayed through the nozzle;     -   completing the anterior or posterior cleaning, pressing a stop         button and disconnecting the electric power supply to the         sheathed heater under the control of the control;     -   supplying tap water to the flow channel of the heating member         through the supply hole of the housing to quench the heating         member and discharge the water through the discharge hole in a         state where the electric power supply to the sheathed heater is         disconnected; and     -   measuring the temperature of water discharged through the         discharge hole by the temperature sensor, shutting the solenoid         valve by the control unit depending on the result value of the         measurement, disconnecting the water supply from the tap and         waiting for the next operation.

According to the present invention, a heating member made of aluminum which is not damaged by thermal shock or rapid temperature changes can be used without deformation, thus extending product life and increasing economic efficiency.

Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a bidet having an instant hot water function which can, after using the hot water function, supply water to a heating member made of aluminum material, quench the heating member to as room temperature, and then wait for the next operation, thus providing reliability in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bidet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a separated perspective view of the bidet according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the bidet according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing installed state of the bidet according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrams showing the operational state of the bidet according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bidet according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a separated perspective view of the bidet according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the bidet according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the installed state of the bidet according to the present invention.

A bidet 100 having an instant hot water function according to the present invention is configured to comprise: a sheathed heater 110 to radiate heat under the control of a control unit; a heating member 120 surrounding the sheathed heater 110, in which the heat radiated from the sheathed heater 110 is delivered to the heating member 120 to convert water located in a flow channel 121 into hot water; a housing 130 mounted on the heating member 120 to accommodate the flow channel 121, through which a supply hole 131 and a discharge hole 132, which are fluidly connected to a front end and a rear end of the flow channel 121, respectively, are penetrating; a temperature sensor 140 which is located in the discharge hole 132 to be submerged in the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120 and which measures the temperature of hot water discharged through the discharge hole 132 and the temperature of the heating member 120 to supply or disconnect power supply to the sheathed heater 110 under the control of the control unit; a mounting member 150 mounted on the housing 130 to fluidly connect the discharge hole 132 and a through hole 153 while accommodating the temperature sensor 140; a guide member 160 mounted on the mounting member 150 to accommodate the through hole 153, thereby guiding the supply of the hot water or discharging air; and a check valve 170 mounted between the guide member 160 and the mounting member 150 to supply hot water and prevent backflow while opening and shutting the through hole 153, which will be later described in more detail.

It is preferable that the heating member 120 is made of aluminum.

The heating member 120 is configured to be inclined by 5 to 30 degrees to accelerate discharge of air and hot water in which the rear end of the flow channel 121 fluidly connected to the discharge hole 132 is lower than the front end.

The mounting member 150 includes a mounting body 151, an installation hole 152 penetrating through inside of the mounting body 151 on the same line with the discharge hole 132 to install the temperature sensor 140, and a through hole 153 penetrating through inside of the mounting body 151 to guide the movement of hot water and air.

The guide member 160 includes a guide body 161 to guide ascending and descending movement of the check valve 170; a guide discharge hole 162 penetrating through an upper part of the guide body 161 to guide the discharge of air located in the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120 by opening and shutting according to the ascent and descent of the check valve 170; and a water flow hole 163 penetrating in the guide body 161 of the opposite side of the guide discharge hole 162 to guide the movement of hot water.

Now, operation process of the present invention having the above described configuration will be described.

First, a person who is sitting on a toilet seat, after using the toilet presses an anterior or posterior cleaning button to wash the genitalia or anus. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, electric power is supplied to the sheathed heater 110 under the control of the control unit to radiate heat, the temperature of the heating member 120 made of aluminum which has superior heat conductivity and durability increases due to the heat radiated from the sheathed heater 110, and the remaining air and water in the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120 are heated and converted into hot air and water.

Further, a solenoid valve (not shown) is opened under the control of the control unit (not shown), and, simultaneously, tap water passing through the solenoid valve (not shown) and a pressure reducing valve (not shown) is converted into water maintaining a constant pressure and then, as shown in FIG. 8, supplied to the supply hole 131 of the housing 130.

At this time, the water supplied through the supply hole 131 is supplied to the front end of the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120 which moves the hot air and water located in the flow channel 121 to the rear end of the flow channel 121 and is discharged through the discharge hole 132 while the temperature sensor 140, which is installed in the installation hole 152 of the mounting member 150 such that a lower part thereof is submerged in the rear end of the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120, measures the temperature.

The flow channel 121 is configured to have a zig-zag shape to extend the contact time between the heating member 120 and water, which increases heat exchange efficiency.

Here, when the temperature of the hot water as measured by the temperature sensor 140 is below the preset temperature, the heating member 120 is further heated by the sheathed heater 110. Alternatively, when the temperature of the hot water as measured by the temperature sensor 140 is over the preset temperature, the heating temperature of the heating member 120 may be decreased by the sheathed heater 110.

As shown in FIG. 9, the pressure of the hot air and water discharged through the discharge hole 132 ascends the check valve 170, opens the through hole 153 of the mounting body 150 and, simultaneously, discharges the water to the outside of the guide body 161 through a water flow hold 163 and the guide discharge hole 162 of the guide member 160 fluidly connected to the open through hole 153. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure of the hot water supplied to the flow channel 121 ascends the check valve 170, the check valve 170 closes the guide discharge hole 162 of the guide member 160 and opens the water flow hole 163, and the water is supplied to the nozzle (not shown), is moved forward through the open water flow hole 163 and sprayed to clean the nozzle (not shown), and then washes the anus or genitalia of the user.

The water supplied to the nozzle (not shown) and sprayed may be used to wash the anus or genitalia of the user. After washing is completed, when the user presses the stop button, tap water is supplied through the supply hole 131 of the housing 130 while the electric power supply to the sheathed heater 110 is disconnected under the control of the control unit (not shown). The water supplied through the supply hole 131 moves along the flow channel 121 of the heating member 120 and exchanges heat with the heating member 120 to be rapidly cooled to room temperature, such that it an be reliably used.

The water which exchanged the heat with the heating member 120 is discharged through the discharge hole 132 while the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 140 whose lower part is submerged in the rear end of the flow channel 121. The water discharged through the discharge hole 132 may be drained through the drain pipeline (not shown). Depending on the temperature of water discharged through the discharge hole as measured with the temperature sensor, the control unit can close solenoid valve to disconnect the water supply from the tap and then wait for the next operation.

An earth wire 120 a and a temperature fuse 120 b are installed on the heating member 120 heated by the sheathed heater 110 to prevent overheating of the heating member 120 and shut the electric power supply. If back pressure is occurs in the tap, the check valve 140 adheres closely to the through hole 153 of the mounting member 150 to maintain a closed state, which prevents the backflow of the washing water, thereby allowing reliable use.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bidet having an instant hot water feature which comprises: a sheathed heater to radiate heat under the control of a control unit; a heating member surrounding the sheathed heater, the heat radiated from the sheathed heater being delivered to the heating member to convert water located in a flow channel into hot water; a housing mounted on the heating member to accommodate the flow channel, through which a supply hole and a discharge hole, which are fluidly connected to a front end and a rear end of the flow channel, respectively, are penetrating; a temperature sensor which is located in the discharge hole to be submerged in the flow channel of the heating member and which measures the temperature of hot water discharged through the discharge hole and the temperature of the heating member to supply or disconnect the power supply to the sheathed heater under the control of the control unit; a mounting member mounted on the housing to fluidly connect a discharge hole and a through hole while accommodating the temperature sensor; a guide member mounted on the mounting member to accommodate the through hole, thereby guiding the supply of the hot water or discharging air, and a check valve mounted between the guide member and the mounting member to supply hot water and prevent backflow while opening and shutting the through hole.
 2. The bidet having the instant hot water feature of claim 1, wherein the heating member is made of aluminum.
 3. The bidet having the instant hot water feature of claim 1, wherein the heating member is configured to be inclined by 5 to 30 degrees to smoothly discharge air and hot water in which the rear end of the flow channel fluidly connected to the discharge hole is lower than the front end.
 4. The bidet having the instant hot water feature of claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises: a mounting body: an installation hole penetrating through inside of the mounting body on the same line with the discharge hole to install the temperature sensor, and a through hole penetrating through inside of the mounting body to guide the movement of hot water and air.
 5. The bidet having the instant hot water feature of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises: a guide body to guide ascending and descending movement of the check valve; a guide discharge hole penetrating through an upper part of the guide body to guide the discharge of air located in the flow channel of the heating member by opening and shutting according to ascending and descending of the check valve; and a water flow hole penetrating in the guide body of the opposite side of the guide discharge hole to guide the movement of hot water.
 6. A control method of a bidet having an instant hot water feature comprising the steps of: pressing an anterior or posterior cleaning button after using a toilet and supplying electric power to a sheathed heater under the control of a control unit to radiate heat; delivering the heat radiated from the sheathed heater to a heating member surrounding the sheathed heater and converting water located in a flow channel into hot water; heating water remaining in a flow channel with the heating member to convert it into hot water, and then opening a solenoid valve to enable the water from the hydrant to be supplied to the flow channel of the heating member through a supply hole of a housing; measuring the temperature of hot water discharged to the discharge hole and the temperature of the heating member by a temperature sensor installed on a mounting member, while locating at the discharge hole to be submerged in the flow channel of the heating member, thereby supplying or disconnecting the electric power to the sheathed heater under the control of the control unit; ascending a check valve with the pressure of residual hot water discharged to the discharge hole to shut a guide discharge hole of a guide member and at the same time moving through a water flow hole to wash a nozzle and then cleaning a user anteriorly or posteriorly while the hot water supplied to the supply hole is sprayed through the nozzle; completing the anterior or posterior cleaning, pressing a stop button and disconnecting the electric power supply to the sheathed heater under the control of the control; supplying tap water to the flow channel of the heating member through the supply hole of the housing to quench the heating member and discharge the water through the discharge hole in a state where the electric power supply to the sheathed heater is disconnected; and measuring the temperature of water discharged through the discharge hole by the temperature sensor, shutting the solenoid valve by the control unit depending on the result value of the measurement, disconnecting the water supply from the tap and waiting for the next operation
 7. The control method of claim 6, wherein the heating member is made of aluminum.
 8. The control method of claim 6, wherein the heating member is configured to be inclined by 5 to 30 degrees to smoothly discharge air and hot water in which the rear end of the flow channel fluidly connected to the discharge hole is lower than the front end.
 9. The control method of claim 6, wherein the mounting member comprises: a mounting body; an installation hole penetrating through inside of the mounting body on the same line with the discharge hole to install the temperature sensor; and a through hole penetrating through inside of the mounting body to guide the movement of hot water and air.
 10. The control method of claim 6, wherein the guide member comprises: a guide body to guide ascending and descending movement of the check valve; a guide discharge hole penetrating through an upper part of the guide body to guide the discharge of air present in the flow channel of the heating member by opening and shutting according to the ascent and descent of the check valve; and a water flow hole penetrating in the guide body of opposite side of the guide discharge hole to guide the movement of hot water. 